Choosing a president for Rochester City Council typically involves some backroom jockeying, followed by a perfunctory, unanimous vote.

Such was the case when President Loretta Scott secured the appointment two years ago. Not so this time.

Instead, three of her eight colleagues voted, "Nay," charging that Scott had retaliated against council member Jackie Ortiz for not backing Mayor Lovely Warren's re-election bid, and had left others out of the loop on committee assignments.

Ortiz said Scott removed her from her committee leadership position without explanation. During a recent caucus prior to Tuesday's organizational meeting, newly elected council member Willie Lightfoot allegedly told Ortiz, "You chose the side you chose," and that she should not be surprised.

Scott said she told Ortiz she wanted to make a change. She offered the same explanation, without elaboration, when asked Tuesday.

Ortiz and Scott were sworn in for their third at-large terms on Tuesday, along with newcomers Mitch Gruber, Willie Lightfoot and Malik Evans.

As president, Scott has the authority to select committee leaders and to create or consolidate committees.

In this case, Scott consolidated two committees — Neighborhood and Community Development, previously led by Ortiz, and Business and Economic Development, previously led by former Council Vice President Dana Miller — back into a single committee, as it was a couple of years ago. Miller left office at the end of December. But instead of keeping Ortiz as committee leader, Scott named first-term council Council member Michael Patterson to his first chairmanship and left Ortiz without a leadership role.

She also named Lightfoot and Evans to committee chairmanships, along with veteran council member Adam McFadden and Elaine Spaull. Lightfoot and Evans previously served in the Monroe County Legislature and on the Rochester City School Board, respectively.

"Clearly there was political retribution there," said council member Molly Clifford, who joined with Ortiz and Spaull in voting against Scott — with Ortiz saying she had "serious reservations" about Scott's leadership.

Ortiz, Spaull and Clifford, who is in her first term, all supported Warren's opponent James Sheppard in some fashion.

"We really didn't have a chance for open conversation about committee chairs," Spaull said, also questioning why seniority appeared to be overlooked.

Ortiz, Clifford and Spaull joined in a unanimous vote to appoint Adam McFadden as City Council vice president.

Scott downplayed the division as City Council begins the new year, expecting to tackle tough issues from police citizen review to nuisance properties.

"We don't all have to sing 'Kumbaya,'" Scott said, "because our hearts and our passions lead us to do what is required."